Dental restoration dowel positioner

ABSTRACT

A dental restoration dowel positioner includes a base plate of magnetic material and a flat table resiliently mounted above the base plate and carrying an electrical vibrator. A pair of clamps are mounted on the table and releaseably clamp arms extending from pans holding dental impressions. A number of universally adjustable brackets are provided and each includes a permanent magnet coupling base magnetically retained on the base plate and movable along its face, a post projecting from the coupling base above the table and supporting an arm by a ball and socket joint. The arm terminates in a second ball and socket joint which supports an element for releaseably engaging a dowel for universal adjustment relative to the dental impression.

United States Patent [191 Bocian et al.

11 3,753,291 Aug. 21, 1973 DENTAL RESTORATION DOWEL POSITIONER Primary ExaminerRobert Peshock [75] Inventors: Harvey Bocian, Jericho; Neil L. Att0mey Howard Mlskm Hauptman, Jamaica, both of N.Y.; George Manik, Morganville, NJ. [57] ABSTRACT A dental restoration dowel positioner includes a base [73] Asslgnee' a t? studlos plate of magnetic material and a flat table resiliently amalca' mounted above the base plate and carrying an electri- [22] Filed; No 30, 1971 cal vibrator. A pair of clamps are mounted on the table and releaseably clamp arms extending from pans hold- I 2]] App! 203l98 ing dental impressions. A number of universally adjustable brackets are provided and each includes a perma- [52] U.S. Cl. 32/11 r magnet coupling base magnetically retained on 51 im. Cl. A61c 13/00 the base plate and movable along its face, a p p 58 1 Field of Search 32/1 1, 40 jecting from the coupling base above the table and i porting an arm by 'a ball and socket joint. The ann ter- [56] Refer n e Cit d minates in a second-ball and socket joint which sup- UNITED STATES PATENTS ports an element for releaseably engaging a dowel for 2 836 849 6/1958 p y universal adjustment relative to the dental impression. 3.650I032 3/1972 KeStler.H......................:..::..:::: 32/11 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures L I I B 4 48 IO 6 '8 M 1 0 K l I I 1 l I 37 3 34 ray/ Patented Aug. 21, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 s N R Y N M T M R NM I. 0 WCP T OUA T 8AM r A H Y .E W G m R R10 Mm G U Patented Aug. 21,1973 3,753,291

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

HARVEY BOCIAN NEIL HAUPTMAN BY GEORGE MANIK #MKW4 ATTORNEY.

a 1 DENTAL RESTORATION DOWEL POSITIONER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to improvements in dental restoration apparatus and it relates more particularly to an improved apparatus for supporting dowelsin accurate orientations and positions in a dental impression attendant to the production of a die therefrom.

A common procedure which is practiced in the production of dental restorations and models, such as crowns, inlays, bridgework and the like involves filling a dental impression tray, generally of U-shaped configuration with a suitable dental impression material such as wax or a hydrocolloid and applying the impression material carrying tray to the subjects teeth to obtain an accurate impression of the teeth. The prepared impression is then removed and filled with a fluid or plastic casting material which sets to a solid mass to obtain a die from the impression which is then employed in producing the desired restoration.

In order to expedite the production of the restoration a dowel is positioned in one or more of the impression tooth cavities and is cast in place in the resultant die to facilitate the removal, handling and replacement of selected die sections. It is essential to the proper use of the dowels that they be accurately positioned. To this end the dowel should be centered so as not to protrude or be close to the outer face of the respective die section and should be oriented to be substantially vertical since excessive deviation from such disposition results in the difficult handling of the die sections and an inaccurate and inferior restoration. Many types of devices and apparatus have been employed and proposed for positioning the dowel in the impression, but these devices have been complex and difficult to operate, unreliable and of little versatility and adaptability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved dental restoration apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for the positioning of dowels in dental impressions attendant to the production of dies therefrom.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for the production of dies with one or more dowels from a dental impression.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the above nature characterized by its reliability, ease, simplicity and convenience of application, accuracy, ruggedness, versatility and adaptability.

' The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof. I

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of a dental restoration apparatus comprising a base member formed of magnetic material, a mount member positioned on the base member, means for separably supporting a dental impression on the mount member, a permanent magnet coupling member located on and adjustable along the face of the base member and magnetically secured thereto, a universally adjustable bracket mounted on the coupling member and extending above the mount member, and a 2 dowel engaging element supported by the bracket and adjustable therewith.

In its preferred form, the base member is a flat plate of magnetic material and the mount member is likewise a flat plate, smaller than the base plate, and mounted on posts on the base plate and supported by rubber cushions. Other resilient elements can be used. An electric vibrator is fixed to the underface of the mount plate and a pair of clamp members are positioned atop the mount plate. The impression supports include impression pans provided with bracket arms engaged by the respective clamps. Each of the universal brackets includes an inverted channel shaped base embracing a permanent magnet and supporting a vertical column. An arm is connected to the top of the vertical column by a ball and socket joint and terminates in a ball and socket joint provided with a tubular dowel engaging pin. The dowel support assembly is readily movable along the base plate and the dowel support element is angularly and translationally universally adjustable, so that a dowel may be supported in its optimum position and angle in any of the impression cavities.

The improved apparatus is simple, reliablevand rugged, easy and convenient to operate, produces accurate restorations, and is of great versatility and adaptability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated supporting a pair of dowels in a dental impression;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, illustrating the vibrator in operation;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a dowel supporting bracket forming part of the improved apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of another form of dowel support bracket supporting a different type of dowel; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a dowel carrying die section produced with the improved apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularly FIGS; 1 to 6 thereof which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rererence numeral 10 generally designates the improved apparatus which includes a rectangular base plate 11 formed of steel or other highly magnetic material and is provided at its corners with depending, preferrably rubber foot pieces 12. Four vertical upwardly directed posts 13 are secured to base plate 11 inwardly of respective corners of the base plate and terminate at their tops in short coaxial coupling pins 14. Supported atop the posts 13 is a rectangular mount plate 16 of similar configuration but of lesser dimensions than base plate 11, the mount plate 16 having circular apertures in the corners thereof which are engaged by rubber grommets. The rubber grommets l7 engage the coupling pins 14 and define vibration absorbing cushions between mount plate 16 and posts 13.

A pair of longitudinally spaced dental pan clamps 18 are positioned along a border of the mount plate and each comprises a bracket 19 including a bottom leg 20 superimposed on the underface of mount plate 16 and secured thereto by nuts and bolts. An upwardly inwardly inclined arm 21 extends from the outer end of leg and terminates in an inwardly directed horizontal leg 22 disposed above the border of mount plate 16. A tapped vertical bore is centrally formed in the leg 22 and is engaged by a mating clamp screw 23 having a knob 24 affixed to its upper end. A rubber clamp pad 26 of frusto-conical shape is carried by the bottom of clamp screw 23 and a washer 27 secured to the clamp screw 23 engages the top face of clamp pad 26.

An electrical vibrator 28 of conventional construction is affixed to the underface of mount plate 16 by nuts and bolts 29 engaging registering openings in mount plate 16 and in a flange 30 fonned on the vibrator case. The vibrator 28 is connected to a source of current by a plug terminated electrical line 32 provided with a line switch 33.

The member for supporting the dental impression A includes a dental pan 34 of conventional U-shaped, open top and open ended configuration. A coupling bracket is connected to the pan 34 and includes a horizontal leg 36 secured to the medial underface of the pan 34, and an outwardly downwardly inclined arm 37 extending from the leg 36 and terminating in an outwardly directed horizontal leg 38. The pan 34 is supported on and above mount plate 16 by clamping bracket leg 38 between mount plate 16 and clamp pad 26.

One or more universally adjustable dowel support assemblies 39 are provided for accurately positioning corresponding tubular dowels 40 in desired locations in the impression A attendant to the production of a die B. Each dowel support assembly 39 comprises a magnetic coupling base 41 of known construction which includes a channel shaped section formed of a magnetic material and having a horizontal top web 42 and a pair of depending short opposite legs 43. Nested in the channel and secured to the underface of web 42 is a strong permanent magnet 44, for example of the Alnico or ceramic type, which oppositely magnetically includes legs 43.

A cylindrical vertical post 46 is centrally mounted atop the web 42 and terminates at its top in a horizontally directed spherical socket member 47, as seen best in FIG. 4. A cylindrical arm 48 is provided at its inner end with a ball member 49 which engages socket member 47 to form therewith a ball and socket joint 50, which permits the universal angular adjustment of arm 48 on post 46, while supporting the arm 48 in its adjusted position. The outer end of arm 48 is provided with a ball section 51 of a ball and socket joint 52 similar to ball and socket joint 50, and engages the socket section 53 thereof. A cylindrical pin 54 depends from the socket member 53 and terminates at its top in a peripheral horizontal shoulder 56, the pin 54 being perpendicular to the axis of the socket of socket member 53 and being universally angularly adjustable relative to the arm 48 about joint 52.

Considering now the operation of the improved apparatus 10, a dental impression A is produced in the known manner with the dental pan 34 and one or a pair of the impression carrying dental pans 34 are mounted atop the mount plate 16 by clamping the respective bracket arms 38 between the mount plate 16 and corresponding clamp pads 26 so that the pans 34 are medially positioned above the mount plate 16. Dowels 40 are slipped over pins 54 and are frictionally engaged by the pins 54 and the assemblies 39 are adjusted in position along base plate 11 and are angularly adjusted so that the respective dowels 40 are accurately and properly positioned in selected cavities in the impression A. This dowel positioning procedure is simply and rapidly performed by reason of the easy and universal horizontal adjustability of the assemblies 39 along the base plate 11 and the firm and reliable magnetic support thereof to the base plate 11 and the universal angular adjustment of the arm 48 relative to the post 46 and the pin 54 relative to the arm 48. The impression A is then filled with a settable fluid mold material such as plaster of paris, a fluid epoxy resin or the like and the vibrator 28 is energized for a time to properly compact and uniformly distribute the molding material and is then deenergized. The molding material is then permitted to harden to form the die B and the pins 54 separated from dowels 40 and the pans 34. A section C of the die B, as shown in FIG. 8, provided with the partially imbedded dowel 40 can be then severed from the die B and employed in the known manner.

In FIG. 7, the improved apparatus 10 is illustrated as applied to the application of another form of dowel. The dowel 57 is highly flexible to minimize the vibration thereof in and relative to the mold material during the vibration of the impression A and is formed of a tapered flexible wire coil which is releasably engaged at its wide end by the pin 54. The apparatus is employed with dowels 57 in the manner described above.

While there have been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, although the dowels are illustrated as being tubular, they may be solid and of other configurations and the pin 54 may be accordingly replaced by other elements or chucks for releaseably holding the respective dowels. Further, while a ball joint or joint is illustratively shown and discussed for providing freedom of movement, other means which provide movement to any degree of rotation in one or more planes between the arms, such as swivels, cams, sponges or the like may be used. Also, the base of the dowel support assembly can fully or partially embrace the magnet and may or may not support the vertical column. The surface on which the basis of the dowel support assemblies rest could be magnetized instead of the dowel support base.

We claim:

1. A dental restoration apparatus comprising a base member formed of magnetic material, a mount member secured to and position above said base member, means for separably supporting a dental impression upon said mount member, a permanent magnet releaseable connecting device located on and adjustable along the face of said base member and separably magnetically retained there, a universally adjustable bracket mounted on said connecting device and extending above said mount member, and a dowel engaging element supported by said bracket and adjustable therewith.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bracket comprises a post mounted on said connecting device, an arm mounted atop and angularly adjustable relative to said post and terminating at its free end in an angularly adjustable joint supporting said dowel engaging element.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said arm is connected to said post by a ball and socket joint, and said joint at the free end of said arm comprises a ball and socket joint.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base member comprises a horizontal plate of magnetic material and said mount member comprises a horiziontal plate of lesser peripheral dimensions than said base plate, and posts supporting said mount plate above said base plate and secured to said plates.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including a vibrator member mounted on said mount plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 including elastomeric cushions located between said mount plate and said posts.

7. The apparatus of cliam 1 wherein said dental impression supporting means comprises a pan containing said dental impression.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said dental impression supporting means comprises a leg depending and extending outwardly from said pan and means for separably securing said leg to said mount member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said securing means comprises a clamp releasably clamping said leg and mount member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said clamp comprises an upwardly extending arm secured to said mount and terminating in a horizontally projecting leg provided with a tapped vertical bore and a screw member engaging said bore and directed toward said mount member. 

1. A dental restoration apparatus comprising a base member formed of magnetic material, a mount member secured to and position above said base member, means for separably supporting a dental impression upon said mount member, a permanent magnet releaseable connecting device located on and adjustable along the face of said base member and separably magnetically retained there, a universally adjustable bracket mounted on said connecting device and extending above said mount member, and a dowel engaging element supported by said bracket and adjustable therewith.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bracket comprises a post mounted on said connecting device, an arm mounted atop and angularly adjustable relative to said post and terminating at its free end in an angularly adjustable joint supporting said dowel engaging element.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said arm is connected to said post by a ball and socket joint, and said joint at the free end of said arm comprises a ball and socket joint.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base member comprises a horizontal plate of magnetic material and said mount member comprises a horiziontal plate of lesser peripheral dimensions than said base plate, and posts supporting said mount plate above said base plate and secured to said plates.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 including a vibrator member mounted on said mount plate.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 including elastomeric cushions located between said mount plate and said posts.
 7. The apparatus of cliam 1 wherein said dental impression supporting means comprises a pan containing said dental impression.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said dental impression supporting means comprises a leg depending and extending outwardly from said pan and means for separably securing said leg to said mount member.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said securing means comprises a clamp releasably clamping said leg and mount member.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said clamp comprises an upwardly extending arm secured to said mount and terminating in a horizontally projecting leg provided with a tapped vertical bore and a screw member engaging said bore and directed toward said mount member. 